Bettye Jean Mack

Precious Memories of
Sister Bettye J. Mack
Sunrise 1940 –Sunset 2020

Bettye Mack, born in 1940 as Bettye Jean Silas, was the second of eleven children born to the late Jacy Sr. and Laura Silas of Indianola, Mississippi. She was preceded in death by her father Jacy Sr., her mother Laura, her older sister Beulah, a younger sister Alma Jean, and three younger brothers: Jacy Jr., John Allen Sr. and Lonzo Sr. Bettye was also preceded in death by her granddaughter Quanza Smith.

Bettye grew up in Indianola, Mississippi, where she attended the Indianola Separate School District and graduated from Gentry High School. She was raised in a household of faith, and while at home with her parents, attended New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ in Indianola under the leadership of Elder Isadore Slack.
As the oldest child in the family, Bettye was loved and looked up to by all her siblings. She could be serious and responsible on one hand; while on the other hand she could be so playful and funny that she’d make you laugh until your side hurt.

She has always loved caring for people. After she graduated, she found herself working at the South Sunflower County Hospital in Indianola under the direction of Nurse Walker.

In October of 1963, Bettye Silas and John Henry Mack were joined in holy matrimony, and to that union was born one child, a daughter; Sharon Diane Mack. Sharon is the only child that Bettye gave birth to.

Later she moved to Chicago, Illinois, where, in keeping with her love for people and her desire to care for them, she attended Malcolm X University, where she focused on Health Sciences.

Bettye ended up in Indianapolis, Indiana among family that she knew and new friends that she made. She had a green thumb and kept a beautiful yard. People who saw her out and about but did not know her by name just called her the ‘yard lady’ or the ‘plant lady’.

Bettye leaves to cherish her memories her daughter Sharon Diane (James Earl) Smith; and her grandchildren: Benita Roshaun (Terry) Gilbert; Demario (Lanishia) Mack; Matthew (Carlene) Smith and David Smith; five sisters: Bobbie Jean Spencer and Laura Bell (Roy) Weeks of Indianola, MS; Virginia Ann Silas of Fort Worth, TX; Belwade Silas of Arlington, TX and Leola Thomas of Memphis, TN; one brother: Elder Dr. Edward Eugene (Delphine) Silas of Bellwood, IL; a host of great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and two very special people whom she held dear: Shonna Petty, her Home Assistant and Nitin Galani, her Physical Therapist.

Bettye was greatly loved and will be missed by so many.

A Celebration of Life will be from 3pm to 4pm on Friday, October 30, 2020 at Legacy Cremation & Funeral Services, 5215 N. Shadeland Avenue, with a service to start at 4pm.